Article for upholding personal affinity

ABSTRACT

An article of manufacture for facilitating the maintenance of interpersonal relationships includes a plush toy and a audio playback module embedded within an area internal to the plush toy. The embedded playback module includes an electronic data storage device for storing audio message files; an audio output device; and a processor for accessing audio message files stored on the storage device and playing the message files through the audio output device. An external communication device is associated with the processor for uploading to the storage device of audio messages. The external communication device may be an on-the-go device or an embedded host.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to methods and articles for promoting and/or maintaining personal relationships. More particularly, the invention relates to an article of manufacture of a nature conducive to the development of emotional ties and provided with functionality for the electronic storage and playback of personalized audio messages.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is a fact of modern life that people are often separated from loved ones, who all too often are small children. Whether a separation is because of job requirements, military service or divorce, it is often the case that the nature of the separation presents difficulty in finding appropriate times for even short telephone calls. To this end, it is an object of the present invention to provide an article of manufacture whereby separation anxiety may be alleviated by allowing a loved one to hear the recorded voice of the separated party regardless of distance or difficulty of the circumstance. Additionally, it is an object of the present invention to provide such an article that notwithstanding distance or the like makes it readily possible to update and/or otherwise change the recorded message.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the foregoing objects, the present invention—an article of manufacture for facilitating the maintenance of interpersonal relationships—generally comprises a plush toy and a audio playback module embedded within an area internal the plush toy. The embedded playback module comprises an electronic data storage device adapted to store audio message files; an audio output device; and a processor for accessing audio message files stored on the storage device and playing the message files through the audio output device. An external communication device is associated with the processor and is adapted to facilitate upload to the storage device of audio messages. The external communication device preferably comprises a universal serial bus device and most preferably comprises a universal serial bus targeted host such as an on-the-go device or an embedded host.

Finally, many other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the relevant arts, especially in light of the foregoing discussions and the following drawings, exemplary detailed description and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the scope of the present invention is much broader than any particular embodiment, a detailed description of the preferred embodiment follows together with illustrative figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like components, and wherein:

FIG. 1 shows, in a front perspective view, a preferred embodiment of the affinity article of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows, in a partially cutaway side elevational view taken through cutline 2-2 of FIG. 1, the affinity article of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows, in a rear perspective view, the affinity article of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows, in a functional block diagram, details of the playback module of the affinity article of FIG. 1 as particularly may be implemented in an embodiment comprising a universal serial bus (“USB”) targeted host;

FIG. 5 shows, in a functional block diagram, details of the playback module of the affinity article of FIG. 1 as particularly may be implemented in an embodiment comprising a USB peripheral device;

FIG. 6 shows, in a functional block diagram, a first example of functionality enabled by implementation in the playback module of an external communication device; and

FIG. 7 shows, in a functional block diagram, a second example of functionality enabled by implementation in the playback module of an external communication device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Although those of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize many alternative embodiments, especially in light of the illustrations provided herein, this detailed description is exemplary of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the scope of which is limited only by the claims appended hereto.

Referring now to the figures, and to FIGS. 1 through 5 in particular, an affinity article 10 for promoting interpersonal relationships is shown to generally comprise a plush toy 11 or doll, such as, for example, a teddy bear 12, and an audio playback module 19, wherein an integral part of the playback module 19 is an external communication device 22. As will be better understood further herein, the external communication device 22 implemented in accordance with the teachings of the present invention enables the uploading of personalized electronic audio files to the playback module 19 of the affinity article 10, which audio files may thereafter be selectively played by a user of the article 10. As particularly shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, the affinity article 10 of the present invention preferably comprises a plush or soft outer covering 13 over an interior space 14 accessible through an access flap 15, which may be provided with conventional closure devices 16. In this manner, the playback module 19 may be accessed as necessary but otherwise secreted within the article 10, thereby resulting in an article 10 that is of the nature generally known to form the object of emotional ties of children.

As also shown in the figures, the playback module 19 of the article 10 of the present invention additionally comprises a preferably nonvolatile data storage device 36 such as, for example, a flash memory 37 or other electrically-erasable programmable read only memory (“EEPROM”) device. As will be better understood herein, the data storage device 36 is provided and adapted to store uploaded audio messages for selective subsequent playback. To this end, the affinity article 10 of the present invention is internally provided with a playback activator 42 such as, for example, a plunger-style momentary switch 43. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 in particular, the momentary switch 43 is preferably embedded within the article 10 near the front face 17 thereof. In use of the article 10 of the present invention, the external communication device 22 associated with the playback module 19 is accessed via the flap 15 in the rear 18 of the plush toy 11 in order to upload to the playback module 19 one or more personalized audio messages. One or more messages being uploaded, a child or other person desiring to hear a message may simply depress the front side 17 of the article 10, causing activation of the embedded momentary switch 43. As will be better appreciated further herein, the momentary switch 43 is interfaced with an internal processor 20 and associated host software 21, which operate in connection with activation of the switch 43 to cause playback of the audio message through a provided audio output device 44 such as, for example, an audio speaker 45 or headset jack 46.

Because it is an overriding object of the present invention to provide such an affinity article 10 that may be readily uploaded with an audio message notwithstanding that the originator of the audio message may be distantly located, and therefor unable to directly record to the article 10, it is deemed critical to the present invention that the external communication device 22 is able to interface with a wide variety of electrical devices through which an audio message for upload may be delivered to the location of the affinity article 10. To this end, the external communication device 22 utilized for the present invention preferably comprises a universal serial bus (“USB”) interface. In the most preferred embodiment, the external communication device 22 comprises a USB targeted host 23, as particularly depicted in FIG. 4.

As will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art, the USB targeted host 23, which may implemented according to either the USB on-the-go (“OTG”) standard or the USB embedded host (“EH”) standard, need only support peripheral devices identified by the target peripheral list (“TPL”) for a particular implementation of the affinity article 10. As a result, full host functionality (typically requiring the processor power of a personal computer) is not required to give communication host capabilities to the external communication device 22. Additionally, in the case of the targeted host 23 being implemented as an OTG device, the external communication device 22 is provided with both host and peripheral capabilities. In either case, however, the USB targeted host 23 is provided with client software 24, aggregate USB system software 25 and a USB bus interface in order that one or more peripheral devices such as, for example, a conventional USB flash drive 47 may be accessed and controlled by the playback module 19. As is otherwise convention in USB implementations, the aggregate USB system software 25 comprises a USB driver 26 and host controller driver 27. Likewise, the USB bus interface 28 comprises a conventional host controller 29 and serial interface engine 30 and one or more USB defined external ports 31.

In the case of an OTG implementation, the external port 31 is implemented as a single USB Micro-AB receptacle, through which single receptacle both host and peripheral capabilities may be provided. As a result, the OTG implementation supports not only direct communication with peripheral-only B-devices such as the conventional USB flash drive 47, but also communication with standard hosts such as, for example, a personal computer (“PC”) 53, as shown in FIG. 7. This capability is particularly advantageous as communication with the PC 53 allows the PC 53 to be used for simple maintenance of audio files stored in the playback module 19 such as, for example, upload of audio files from the PC 53 to the playback module 19, download and/or backup of audio files from affinity article and/or local storage and/or backup of otherwise created audio files or the reordering or categorizing of audio files residing in the playback module 19.

Additionally, however, the capability to interface with a PC 53 extends centralized server 55 based hosted services functionality to affinity device 10 by readily enabling an Internet 54 connection. For example, in addition to simple file maintenance functionality provided as a local application, server-based capabilities may include Internet-based hosted file maintenance such as upload of audio files to the server 55. In this example, server-based software could be utilized to remotely capture an audio file (through a computer's microphone), store the captured audio file as being intended for a particular subscriber, notify the subscriber through a computer generated e-mail message of the availability of a new audio file, and to allow connectivity through the PC 53 of the affinity article 10 for download to the playback module 19 of the new audio file.

In the case of an EH implementation, the external ports 31 comprise at least one USB Standard-A receptacle through which host functionality is provided, but may additionally comprise one or more USB Standard-B receptacles. Through the provision of the multiple ports, however, similar connectivity and capabilities as described with respect to the OTG implementations may be obtained in the EH implementation.

As shown in FIG. 6, either targeted host implementation enables interface of the playback module 19 with an application specific human interface device (“HID”) 48, which under the control of provided host-side client software 24 may be utilized to connect a display 49, such as a low power liquid crystal display 50, and/or a keypad 51 to the affinity article 10. In this manner, file maintenance and the like may readily be performed for the playback module 19 without need for connection to a PC 53. Additionally, the HID 48 may be implemented as a USB compound device wherein a hub 52 is provided as part of the HID, thereby allowing connection to a conventional USB flash drive 47 while utilizing the display 49 and/or keypad 51 for file maintenance.

Although implementation as a targeted host 23 is preferred for the resulting flexibility, it should be noted that for simplicity it may be desired to implement the external communication device as USB peripheral-only B-device 32. In this case, as shown particularly in FIG. 5, the USB bus interface 33 simply comprises a serial interface engine 34 connecting the USB defined external port 35 to the host software 21, which host software 21 is responsible only for device operation and has no responsibility for management of USB communications. As will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art, the external port in this embodiment comprises a USB Standard-B receptacle, which must provide connection to a USB host device such as, for example, a HID 48 with host functionality or a PC 53.

While the foregoing description is exemplary of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, those of ordinary skill in the relevant arts will recognize the many variations, alterations, modifications, substitutions and the like as are readily possible, especially in light of this description, the accompanying drawings and claims drawn thereto. For example, the audio output device could comprise a USB headset connected through one of the USB ports 31.

Likewise, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the playback module 19 requires a power source 38 such as, for example, batteries 39 accessible through a compartment door 41 and/or a charging and/or AC-DC adapter interface 40. On this note, such a charging circuit could of course be provided through the USB ports 31, 35. In any case, because the scope of the present invention is much broader than any particular embodiment, the foregoing detailed description should not be construed as a limitation of the scope of the present invention, which is limited only by the claims appended hereto. 

1. An article of manufacture for facilitating the maintenance of interpersonal relationships, said article comprising: a plush toy; and a audio playback module embedded within an area internal said plush toy, wherein said playback module comprises: an electronic data storage device adapted to store audio message files; an audio output device; a processor for accessing audio message files stored on said storage device and playing said message files through said audio output device; and an external communication device associated with said processor, said communication device being adapted to facilitate upload to said storage device of audio messages.
 2. The article of manufacture as recited in claim 1, wherein said plush toy comprises a teddy bear.
 3. The article of manufacture as recited in claim 1, wherein said external communication device comprises a universal serial bus device.
 4. The article of manufacture as recited in claim 3, wherein said universal serial bus device comprises a targeted host.
 5. The article of manufacture as recited in claim 4, wherein said targeted host comprises a universal serial bus on-the-go device.
 6. The article of manufacture as recited in claim 4, wherein said targeted host comprises a universal serial bus embedded host.
 7. The article of manufacture as recited in claim 4, wherein said targeted host is adapted to interface with universal serial bus flash drive.
 8. The article of manufacture as recited in claim 7, wherein said targeted host is further adapted to interface with a personal computer.
 9. The article of manufacture as recited in claim 8, wherein said personal computer is programmed to maintain audio message files stored on said electronic data storage device.
 10. The article of manufacture as recited in claim 4, wherein said targeted host is adapted to interface with a personal computer.
 11. The article of manufacture as recited in claim 10, wherein said personal computer is programmed to maintain audio message files stored on said electronic data storage device.
 12. The article of manufacture as recited in claim 3, wherein said universal serial bus device comprises a peripheral bus device interface.
 13. The article of manufacture as recited in claim 12, wherein said peripheral bus device interface provides interconnectivity to a personal computer.
 14. The article of manufacture as recited in claim 13, wherein said personal computer is programmed to maintain audio message files stored on said electronic data storage device.
 15. An article of manufacture for facilitating the maintenance of interpersonal relationships, said article comprising: a doll; and a audio playback module embedded within an area internal said plush toy, wherein said playback module comprises: an electronic data storage device adapted to store audio message files; an audio output device; a processor for accessing audio message files stored on said storage device and playing said message files through said audio output device; and an external communication device associated with said processor, said communication device being adapted to facilitate upload to said storage device of audio messages.
 16. The article of manufacture as recited in claim 15, wherein said external communication device comprises a universal serial bus device.
 17. The article of manufacture as recited in claim 16, wherein said universal serial bus device comprises a targeted host.
 18. The article of manufacture as recited in claim 17, wherein said targeted host comprises a universal serial bus on-the-go device.
 19. The article of manufacture as recited in claim 17, wherein said targeted host comprises a universal serial bus embedded host.
 20. The article of manufacture as recited in claim 19, wherein: said targeted host is further adapted to interface with a personal computer; and said personal computer is programmed to maintain audio message files stored on said electronic data storage device. 